VELVETS (3)

 

Jerry Stiftinger

The Velvets (3) (Farrell, Pennsylvania)

 

Personnel :

Jerry Sharell "Jerry Stiftinger" (Lead)

Eddie Daniels

Jim Repas

Bruce Williams

Lawrence Thomas

Steve Novosel

Discography :

The Velvets (3)

1959 - Everybody Knows / Hand Jivin' Baby (Plaid 101)

Jerry Sharell

1960 - Everybody Knows / That's My Business (Alanna 560)

Biography :

Jerry Stiftinger , sophomore radio-speech major from Farrell, Pa., is a member of the Velvets. He sings lead on "Everybody Knows", a ballad written by Ed Daniel, former “Velvet” who had to leave for the army. The flip side, “Hand Jivin’ Baby” is a rock ’n roll number written by Jim Repas, also a “Velvet” and a sophomore at Indiana State Teachers college.  Besides being a member of the » “Velvets,” the 19-year-old baritone, whose stage name is Jerry Sharell, also works as a single. He sings on week-ends at the Pines nightclub in Youngstown with Lenny Esposito’s band. Jerry has won several variety shows, among them the Gene Carroll TV show in Cleveland. He has also made appearances in numerous other variety shows and has done radio and TV work in Cleveland, Youngstown, Farrell, and auditioned for Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts in 1958. On the KSU campus, Jerry appeared as an in-between act at Pork Barrel  and is on the WKSU-FM staff.

  

The Velvets were composed of five boys, all from Farrell, which organized five years ago, other members of  are Bruce Williams, Lawrence Thomas, apd Steve Novosel, Youngstown university freshman. Cut early in January 1959, the record was released in February on the Plaid label. It has made the top 40 in Cleveland, according to KYW disc jockey, Wes Hopkins. It received a “B” rating in Cashbox magazine. It has also been the WAKR “Pick of the Week” hit. The record has been distributed in New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ohio, and later be distributed to DJ’s in other states. The following year Jerry Sharell re-recorded "Everybody Knows" b/w "That's My Business",  released by Alanna Records.

Songs :

The Velvets (3)

   

Everybody Knows                              Hand Jivin' Baby

Jerry Sharell

  

Everybody Knows                       That's My Business